Packing-ring for fruit-jars or the like



PATENTBD JAN. 5,1904.

G. D. 0 GODDINGTON. PACKING -RING- FOR FRUIT JARS OR THE LIKE.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 21, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

an on 1 in Patented January 5, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

GEORGE DAVID GULLUM OODDINGTON, OF HENO OHIO.

PACKING-RING FOR FRUIT- JARS OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,586, dated January 5, 1904.

Application filed August 21, 1902. Serial No. 120,522. (No model-) jar and cover, and is fusible under the action of the'heat of a freshly-filled jar, so as to form a hermetic seal between the neck of the jar and the cover.

It is universal to employ rubber packingrings with the Mason type of jar; but these rings have several disadvantages, among which the following are most noticeable: With a rubber packing-ring it is necessary to screw the cap, or cover snugly against the ring, and it frequently occurs that the sharp lower edge of the metallic cap cuts through the ring at one or more places, whereby the seal or joint between the cover and the jar is not air-tight. Moreover, the seat formed at the base of the neck of the jar for the reception of the packing-ring is always uneven and the rubber ring does not efiectively fill the recesses formed by the uneven places, and therefore the seal is seldom air-tight. Another disadvantage is that the juices attack the inner edge of a rubber ring, thereby impairing the flavor and quality of the fruit and also forming a cement which makes a very strong internal bond between the cover and the jar, and in endeavoring to unscrew the cover the jar is frequently broken.

In view of the objections hereinbefore noted with respect to a rubber packing-ring it is the object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages, and consequently to provide a packing-ring which will not rot, but will maintain its normal condition for an indefinite period; to have the ring of such strength as to obviate cutting thereof by the sharp edge of the metallic cover; to-

form the ring of such material as will not be afiected by the juices of the contents of the jar, and, finally, to have the ring capable of effectually filling all unevennesses in the packing-ring seat and the lower edge of the cover without requiring a very powerful pressure of the cover, and thereby to insure an airtight joint orseal between the. jar and the cover.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination the scope of the'claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of the'neck and adjacent body portion of an ordinary Mason type of fruit-jar having the present form of packing-ring applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a packing-ring embodying the features of the present invention. Fig.' 3 is a cross-sectional view thereof.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the present invention I employ a flat ring 1, formed of cardboard or strawboard, which is designed to form the body of the ring and has been selected as the best material in view of its lightness, toughness, durability, and inexpensiveness. This ring, which forms a solid inelastic body portion to prevent any yielding which might crack the adhesive material hereinafter described, is first cut or stamped from a sheet or blank of cardboard and then entirely submerged in a liquid bath of rosin wax tempered to melt at about 150 Fahrenheit, thereby to form a fusible adhesive covering 2 for the body of the ring. It is essential that the strawboard ring he first cut from a blank and then entirely submergedin the wax-bath instead of cutting or stamping the rings from a waxed sheet, as in the latter case-the inner and outer peripheral edges of the cardboard ring would be exposed-that is to say, they would not have the covering of wax, and such rough or raw edges would permit external air to permeate through the central fibrous body, and thereby enter the jar, to the detriment of the contents thereof. This disadvantage is efiectually overcome by first stamping or cutting the ring and then submerging the same in the wax-bath,as the rough or raw edges of the ring will permit of the wax thoroughly soaking into and permeating the body of the ring in addition to collecting upon the external surface thereof, thereby rendering the ring entirely impervious to air. Moreover, by first cutting or stamping and then subjecting the ring to a bath of adhesive material there is no waste of the wax or adhesive material, as would occur if the ring were stamped from a sheet previously treated to the bath. The quality of board preferred is known to the trade as No. 70, as this grade of board has the desired degree of strength to prevent tearing and breaking thereof when being applied to a can or jar.

In putting up the rings for market they are preferably packed a dozen in a box, and

to prevent the adhesive coverings from adhering one to the other under ordinary conditions and also when being handled each ring, after it has been subjected to the bath of adhesive material and then dried, is then submerged in a bath of whiting, clay, talc, chalk, or the like, and water, so as to form a thin paste of the consistency of cream,which clings to the waxed surface of the cardboard ring and when dried forms a powdered surface coating which prevents softening of the wax, and hence prevents the rings from sticking to each other when packed for market,

and also permits of the rings being readily handled without softening of the wax by the heat of the hand.

When using the present form of ring, the jar or can 3 is first filled with the heated fruit, vegetables, or other material, after which the neck 4.- and packing-ring seat 5 are wiped dry, then the packing-ring is applied to the seat in the usual manner, and finally the screw cap'or cover 6 is applied to the neck and screwed down upon the packing-ring until there is a close fit between the lower edge of the cover and the ring. It will now be understood that the heat imparted to the jar and the metallic cover by the heated contents thereof softens or partially fuses the outer surface of the wax covering, whereby the latter runs into and efiectually fills all recesses or interstices in the packing-ring seat, and the lower edge of the cap or cover sinks into the wax, and when the latter hardens there is an efiective hermetic seal between the cover and the jar. To remove the cover, heat is applied to the latteras, for instance, by placing a heated stove-lid upon the top of the cover until the wax has become softened or partially fused-after which the lid may be removed and the cap or cover conveniently unscrewed, as the softening or melting of the wax breaks the bond between the cover and the jar. It will here be noted that it is not necessary to screw the cover down as tightly as is required when using a rubber packing-ring, as in the latter case it is necessary to compress the elastic ring, while in the present case it is merely necessary to embed the lower edge of the cap or cover in the wax without materially compressing the cardboard body, for the reason that it is the adhesion of the wax to the jar and cover which forms the seal rather than the compression of the ring between the jar and the cover. Hence, as the pressure of the cover upon the ring is comparatively slight, there is no cutting or splitting of the body of the ring,wherefore the present form of ring is stronger and more durable than the ordinary rubber ring.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the present composite packing-ring is very strong and durable, as the body thereof is formed of fibrous material, which will not tear when being applied to thejar, and is covered with a coating of wax which is impervious to air and is not affected by the juices of fruits, vegetables, 850. Hence the outer edge of the ring will not rot or decay, and there will be no cement bond between the cover and the jar formed by the action of the juices upon the ring, as in the case with the ordinary rubber rings.

I am aware of paper packing-rings for fruitjars; but the same have not been coated or covered with wax, and I am still further aware of disks of paper and cloth which are coated with paraffin and situated between the cover and the neck of the jar, so as to cover the mouth thereof, but not disposed so as to form a seal between the edge of the cover and the neck of the jar. Moreover, paraffin-wax contracts so much under the efiect of cold that it cracks and loosens from the jar, and thereby permits external air to enter the latter. Wherefore paraffin-wax is undesirable and has not the same advantage as rosin-wax. I am also aware of a paper cap or lid which has been entirely submerged in a rosin-bath, so as to render the same water and air proof, but not to form a seal between the jar and the cover by a partial melting of the wax when the cap is applied to a heated jar. I

What I claim is- A packing-ring for fruit-jars and the like consisting of a single inelastic ring of hard material having suflicient body to retain its ring-like shape without a backing, and provided at its opposite faces with exterior coatings of adhesive material which is fusible at.

a low temperature, and the coatings being of suflicient thickness to form pliable or yieldable surfaces for engaging and sealing a jar and its cover, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE DAVID CULLUM OODDINGTON.

Witnesses:

L. S. KRAUSS, JOHN H. KEMP. 

